The Film Daily (1918)

ZfeBRADSTREET of FILHDOH Vol. VI, No. 40 jrjfeRECOCMIZED Authority Saturday, November 16, 1918 Price 5 Cent* FOR NEW ENGLAND DISTRIBUTION Paragon Pictures, Inc. Formed With George A. Dodge as President — "Stolen Orders'' First Release Paragon Pictures, Inc., a new distributing organization, has been formed to handle big pictures throughout the New England states. The officers of the company are: President, George A. Dodge, who built Paragon Park at Nantasket Beach, the noted amusement resort; vicepresident and general manager, Stanley W. Hand, known to exhibitors through his affiliation with the World Film Corp. and Pathe exchange; secretary and treasurer, Hovey Dodge, also known to New England exhibitors as sales representative for Pathe; office manager, E. E. Weakley, former booker and office manager of Pathe's Boston branch. "Stolen Orders," the Wm. A. Brady special, has been selected as the initial Paragons release. It will be placed on th*_ market December 1. Another production already secured is "Carmen of the Klondike," which has been taken over from the S. A. Lynch Enterprises, while negotiations are underway for the purchase of the New England rights to a number of other successful productions. George Loane Tucker as Director General George Loane Tucker, who has just completed the first Anita Stewart film, "Virtuous Wives," is to head a new producing organization as director general. Special productions will be made with material and production given first consideration. The rights to several splendid pieces of material are held by the organization and others are being negotiated for. It is reported that two prominent stars are affiliated with this organization and that no expense is to be spared. The best of material is to be secured and other prominent directors will be placed under contract. No information would be given as to the identity of the stars involved, by those in charge of the business arrangements and rumors as to their identity were neither confirmed nor denied. It is reported that the stars are quite prominent. Lois Weber Engaged Will Direct the Second Anita Stewart Picture Arrangements have been made for Lois Weber who has made so many fine Universal specials, to direct the second Anita Stewart production for the Louis Mayer company to be released by First National. Miss Stewart leaves for the Coast on Monday. It is understood that Miss Weber will do a story of her j own with the material recently pur chased for Miss Stewart held in re serve for the present. U.B.O. Aids Red Cross All War Work Films To Be Shown in Vaudeville Houses The United Booking Offices, the dominant source of vaudeville attractions, will program the American Red Cross war work films in hundreds of theatres. This arrangement is dated to begin at once. It is due to the active interest of John Murdoch, manager of the U. B. O. in Red Cross aims that this arrangement was possible. Mr. Murdock and E. F. Albee of the U. B. O. have joined in co-operation with the American Red Cross Bureau cf Pictures, after a similar action a tew weeks ago when the U. B. O. accepted the initial release of Red Cross film, "The Historic Fourth of July in Paris." The United Booking Office by its arrangement for these war work films will serve all the houses of such circuits as the Keith, Proctor, Orpheum, Poli, Interstate, Tri-state, Western and Southwestern circuits, as well as a large number of scattered Class A houses outside of this circuit, such as the Maryland at Baltimore, Shea's at Buffalo, The Temple at Detroit, the Davis, Pittsburgh, and the Palace at New Orleans. They will be served with the film from General Film Company exchanges, co-operating with the Buureau of Pictures by providing the physical distribution of the Red Cross releases. Irwin States, Case Files Particulars in Suit Against Thomas A. Edison, Incorporated Walter W. Irwin has filed particulars demanded by Thomas A. Edison, Inc., in his suit against the corporation to recover for services in its behalf in aiding to bring about the settlement of the suit of the Greater New York Film Co. against the General Film Co., in which the Edison company contends that the plaintiff did not earn the sum he claims. He states that he was authorized to represent the Edison company by Carl H. Wilson, the vice-president and general manager, in 1915. He says he was brought into the case because Judge Samuel Seabury believed that with Mr. Irwin's influence and authority with the Vitagraph Company he would prove of assistance in the negotiations with Mr. Rogers, of counsel for William Fox. Mr. Irwin said that the first settlement proposition was $400,000, of which $200,000 was to be in cash and the rest in notes, and the General Film would take over the Greater New York Film Rental Co. He said he thought a counter offer of $250,000 in cash would be acceptable to Mr. Fox because he understood Mr. Fox was badly in need of money due to a falling off of business and on account of the cost of producing the Annette Kellerman picture in Jamaica. After long negotiations, sometimes lasting all night, the settlement was reached, and Mr. Irwin says he was able to save the defendants in the General Film suit $104,000 because the total involved was only $350,000, whereas the defendants were prepared to pay $400,000, and the General Film was not compelled to assume a $24,000 item for films sold by manufacturers to the Greater New York Film Rental Co., and without assuming the Rosenbluh contract of $30,000, and by acquiring the Greater New York Film Rental Co. the General Film was able to do away with competition. E. K. Lincoln, who is going to do three pictures for the S. L. Pictures Corporation, under the personal direction of Ralph Ince, will begin work upon the first of these at the Biograph studio Monday.